The Volvo EX90 is the long-awaited successor to the XC90, but while it retains its predecessor's seven-seat layout, it switches to electric power...
On sale Late 2023 | Price from £90,000 (est)
The striking Oscar Fredrik Church in Volvo’s home city of Gothenburg is a Neo-Gothic building, which means its architect (Helgo Zettervall) looked to the past for his design, but the future for the engineering behind it. And the team that developed the new Volvo EX90 has taken a similar approach.
You see, at first glance this luxury SUV doesn’t look all that different to the hugely popular Volvo XC90 that it replaces. However, under the skin it fully embraces the latest technology by switching to electric power; no petrol, diesel or even hybrid variants will be offered.
More precisely, the only version of the EX90 that will be available when sales begin late in 2023 has two electric motors (one on the front axle and the other at the rear to give it four-wheel drive), with these producing a combined 510bhp. That matches the range-topping versions of the closely related Polestar 3 and the rival BMW iX.
Power for the EX90’s motors comes from the same 111kWh battery as in the Polestar and, not surprisingly, the two cars have similar official ranges: 373 miles and 379 miles respectably. Both narrowly trump the iX’s figure (369 miles).
The EX90’s maximum charging speed is still to be confirmed, but Volvo is promising that you’ll be able to get its battery from 10-80% in less than 30 minutes if you use an ultra-rapid public charger. If you charge at home using a 7.4kW wallbox you can expect the battery to go from zero to full in just over 11 hours.
As a bonus, this is Volvo’s first electric model capable of bi-directional charging, meaning you can use it to charge another electric vehicle that’s running low on juice – the modern equivalent of a jump start.
Perhaps more significantly in this era of sky-high energy bills, the technology could potentially allow you to power your home from your car during peak times, then recharge the EX90’s battery at night, when electricity is at its cheapest. Volvo says it’s even looking into the possibility of allowing customers to sell energy they don’t use back to the grid.
But what about when you need to charge up your EX90 because you’ve actually driven it somewhere? Well, Volvo says it’s working with various public charging networks on a new system (imaginatively named ‘Plug and Charge’) that will allow the car to start charging as soon as it’s plugged in. In theory, you wouldn’t even have to swipe your credit card – payment would be taken automatically from an account managed with a smartphone app.
As for the EX90’s interior, it represents far more of a departure from recent Volvos than the exterior, with a massive, 15.0in central touchscreen replacing the 9.0in one we’re used to. That should hopefully mean big icons that are relatively easy to hit on the move, although in our experience even the best screens require more of your attention than using old-school control knobs.
There is at least one physical dial on the centre console for changing the volume of the stereo. Plus, the EX90’s operating system has been developed by Google, so you get hands-free help from Google Assistant, in addition to navigation via Google Maps and access to various Google Play apps. Worshippers at the altar of Apple need not fear, either, because wireless Apple CarPlay is included as well.
A second, smaller screen puts the most relevant driving information directly in front of you, and this is complemented by a head-up display that projects your speed and sat-nav instruction onto the windscreen.
As with many modern cars, the EX90’s technology will be improved over time without you needing to visit a dealer, thanks to remote software updates. What’s more, a 5G internet connection should allow superfast streaming from your favourite music service, and a (likely optional) 25-speaker stereo from Bowers & Wilkins promises Dolby Atmos surround-sound technology.
There’s no need to worry about losing your car keys, because your smartphone can be set to automatically unlock the doors as you approach and lock them as you walk away. And keeping your phone topped up shouldn’t be an issue, because the EX90 has a wireless charging pad, plus enough USB-C ports to make sure none of your passengers’ electrical devices go flat.
Indeed, the new model’s biggest trump card could be its family-friendly nature – it’s one of the few electric SUVs with seven seats. We’ve yet to sit in the back of one to see how much space you’ll actually get, but unless it’s a backwards step from the XC90, adults will be able to fit in all three rows.
Similarly, the amount of boot space on offer remains a mystery for now, but we’d be surprised if the EX90 didn’t improve on the already impressive XC90. That has room for a couple of large bags, even when all seven of its seats are in use, and can take two large pushchairs or up to 10 carry-on suitcases with its third row folded away.
What we do know for sure is that there’s a handy second boot (or ‘frunk’) under the bonnet where you can store the charging cables if you wish to keep them away from the rest of your luggage.
Beyond the fact that it’s electric, Volvo says the EX90’s eco credentials are burnished by recycled materials used in its construction, including 15% of the plastic and steel, and 25% of the aluminium.
And, as with all of the brand’s cars, safety will be a key selling point; it’s even reflected in the exterior design. Specifically, there’s a raised section towards the front of the roof that resembles the taxi sign on a black cab. However, instead of telling pedestrians they can hail your EX90 for a lift, it contains a lidar scanner that can apparently detect even small objects that are hundreds of metres ahead, giving more time for the car’s driver aids to react to potential dangers.
The presence of the lidar scanner also means that the EX90 has all the hardware it needs for fully autonomous driving – at least in certain conditions and when legislation permits.
Meanwhile, sensors and cameras inside the car monitor the driver for signs of distraction or drowsiness so that alerts can be issued if necessary. And if the worst does still happen, and you fall asleep or are taken ill while driving, the EX90 is designed to safely bring itself to a stop and call for help.
Given its superior practicality, we’d expect the new model to cost more than the five-seat Polestar 3 with the same battery (£85,500). But if that rules it out for you, the good news is that much of the same technology will filter down to cheaper models in the Volvo range.
The brand says it intends to reveal a new electric car every year, with the aim of having a fully electric line-up by 2030 and being a carbon-neutral company by 2040. That’s anything but backwards looking.
Keyword: 2023 Volvo EX90 electric SUV revealed